A police officer whose detective work led to the imprisonment for ten years of a Cullingworth man who stabbed his victim three times has been commended by West Yorkshire Police.

Det Con Bill Hargreaves, 48, who has been in the force only seven years, is pictured here, on the left, receiving his award from Keighley Police Divisional Commander Supt Derek Bonnard.

Gordon Sharpe, 46, of South Road, Cullingworth, was imprisoned in June for attempting to murder Robert Speed, 31, who was found on a doorstep in South Road with three stab wounds in summer last year.

Det Con Hargreaves said Sharpe had walked 85 yards from his house to Mr Speed's home, knocked on the door and when Mr Speed came out stabbed him. There was a fight and Sharpe stabbed him twice again.

Mr Speed, who had been staying at his girlfriend's house, had to undergo surgery for his life-threatening injuries to his abdomen, side and back.

Sharpe claimed he did not realise he had a knife with him when he went to the house.

A knife was found at the scene. Later, after a search, another knife was found hidden in a washing machine in Sharpe's house.

"Crucial to the case was the need to match the blood on the knife to the one found in the washing machine," says Det Con Hargreaves. "And another difficult element of the case was dealing with the juvenile witnesses who were interviewed on video tape."

Det Insp Gary Baker, who recommended Det Con Hargreaves for the commendation, says: "The case was handled almost exclusively by Det Con Hargreaves, who dealt with the offence from start to finish in a very professional and competent manner."

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